Athlete Mindset

By: SportsE Media | hosted by Lisa Bonta Sumii LCSW CMPC
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  • Summary

  • This is the Athlete Mindset podcast. Presented and produced by SportsEpreneur. Part of the QuietLoud Studios Podcast Network. And this podcast is all about mental health in sports. This podcast series is a space for conversations with athletes, coaches, practitioners, and stakeholders in sports. And it’s where those individuals share their perspectives, experiences, and thoughts on mental health in sports. Hosted by Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC Eric Kasimov, Founder of KazSource and the creator of SportsE Media, is generously hosting the Athlete Mindset podcast on his platform as he deeply believes these conversations are essential and deserve to be prioritized. If you are looking to start a podcast or create original content, you have to talk with the team at SportsE Media. I work with them and I vouch for them. It’s that simple. About Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC Lisa is a mental health therapist with over 21 years of clinical experience, licensed in both CA and NV. She is a private practice clinician and the CEO and Founder of AthMindset, LLC. Lisa supports the elite athlete to achieve optimal mental health and peak mental sport performance. She works with adolescent sport teams, collegiate student-athletes, Olympians/Olympic hopefuls, as well as professional athletes and teams. Lisa is the first-ever Mental Health & Sport Performance Specialist for the Oakland Roots Sports Club. The Roots are a men’s professional soccer team and purpose-driven club. Seeing the elite athlete as a multidimensional human, navigating various roles and identities, is integral to Lisa’s approach. Focusing on the role that interpersonal trauma, culture, race, gender, and sexual orientation play as the athlete navigates life on and off the field, is at the center of her work. Lisa is listed in the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s Mental Health Registry and the National Football League Player Association’s Clinician Directory. Lisa is often an invited podcast guest and conference speaker. Besides hosting the Athlete Mindset podcast on the SportsE+ podcast platform. She spoke at TEDxWilmington on the intersection of race, mental health, and sport. She has been featured in Time Magazine, Teen Vogue, BBC World News, and Women’s Health Magazine. AthMindset, LLC, supports the mental health of the elite athlete and their ecosystem. This includes serving the spouses/partners, family members, coaches, teams, referees/umpires, agents, and athletic trainers, with clinical services and sport performance consultation. To get more content like this check out https://sportsepreneur.com and https://quietloudstudios.com/
    2023 KazSource, Inc
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Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
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Episodes
  • From Adversity to Aspiration: Mariah Mazon’s Softball Journey and Mental Game

    From Adversity to Aspiration: Mariah Mazon’s Softball Journey and Mental Game
    May 1 2025
    In this episode of the Athlete Mindset podcast, host Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC welcomes Mariah Mazon, a professional softball player and aspiring sports psychology professional. Mariah shares her journey from a youth softball player in Tulare, California, to a standout two-way star at Oregon State, and now a pro with Athletes Unlimited. She opens up about navigating major adversities, including the COVID-19 season disruption and a hamstring injury during her senior year, and how she leaned on family, physical activity, and mental strategies like meditation and focal cues to stay grounded. Mariah also discusses the unique challenges of transitioning to professional softball, from the pressure of the Athletes Unlimited point system to managing media and fan interactions. Her insights into mental preparation and her vision to create a holistic training facility for young athletes make this a must-listen for athletes and coaches alike.As she pursues her master’s in Sport and Performance Psychology, Mariah reflects on how her experiences with a sports psychologist shaped her approach to coaching and mental resilience. This episode offers practical tools and inspiration for young athletes navigating transitions and building mental toughness.Key Takeaways from "From Adversity to Aspiration: Mariah Mazon’s Softball Journey and Mental Game"Navigating COVID Disruptions: Mariah leaned on family time, board games, and outdoor activities like running to maintain mental health during the uncertain 2020 season cancellation.Mental Recovery from Injury: A hamstring tear in her senior year challenged Mariah’s mindset; she used meditation and team sports psychology sessions to focus on pitching and regain balance.Power of Mental Tools: Mariah relies on pre-game meditation, physical focal cues (e.g., grounding her feet), and verbal cues like “WIN” (What’s Important Now) to stay present and manage distractions.Pro-Level Challenges: The Athletes Unlimited point system, public leaderboards, mandatory fan interactions, and living in hotels create unique pressures that require mental discipline.Overcoming Negative Self-Talk: Exposure to a sports psychologist helped Mariah recognize and shift negative self-talk from harsh coaching, boosting her performance and confidence.Transition Tips: Mariah advises young athletes to focus on mental preparation routines, reflecting on successful games to identify what mental strategies work best.Future Vision: Mariah aims to open a Central Valley facility offering physical and mental training for young athletes, addressing the lack of resources she faced growing up.More about Mariah Mazon:Mariah Mazon is a Tulare, California, native and standout softball player, best known for her dominant two-way career at Oregon State as both a pitcher and hitter. After college, she went pro with Athletes Unlimited Softball League, represented Team USA internationally, and played overseas in Japan with the Toda Medics. She later transitioned into coaching, with stops at Holy Names University and the Academy of Art University. Mariah is currently pursuing a master's degree in Sport and Performance Psychology at California State University, Fresno.Credits: Athlete Mindset is part of the SportsE Media platform.Produced by KazCM and featured on the QuietLoud Studios podcast network.Support the Athlete Mindset Community: Click Here to contribute to the Athlete Mindset Community.By supporting the Athlete Mindset community, you will contribute directly to the mental health of athletes. With your amplification, we can ensure more voices are heard and more individuals are impacted. Thank You for making a difference!Connect with the guest, host, and podcast production team:Mariah Mazon: Team USALisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC: LinkedIn | Instagram | websiteSportsE Media: LinkedIn | XRelated episodes to “From Adversity to Aspiration: Mariah Mazon’s Softball Journey and Mental Game”:Sydney Supple | Empowering Women and Northwestern SoftballSavanah Whatley Opens Up About Mental Health in Life and SoftballBlack Representation and Visibility in Softball with Zoe Conley AthMindset | Black Representation and Visibility in Softball with Zoe ConleyMusic: Beat Provided By freebeats.io | Produced By White Hot
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    32 mins
  • Unmasking Mental Health with Marcus Smith II

    Unmasking Mental Health with Marcus Smith II
    Apr 22 2025

    Welcome to the Athlete Mindset podcast, hosted by Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC. In this raw and heartfelt episode, Lisa sits down with Marcus Smith II, a former NFL first-round draft pick turned mental health advocate, life coach, and Global Ambassador for All Points North (APN). Marcus shares his journey from anxiety attacks at age eight to a near-fatal moment during his NFL career, revealing how therapy and APN transformed his life. Together, they explore the stigma black men face in addressing mental health, the power of vulnerability, and Marcus’s work with Circle of M to support athletes and youth. Lisa opens up about her own postpartum panic attacks, creating a powerful exchange of lived experiences.

    Key Takeaways from "Unmasking Mental Health with Marcus Smith"

    • Mental health’s hidden face: It doesn’t have a look, and success can mask deep struggles.
    • Cultural barriers: Black men often inherit silence around emotions, fearing judgment or weakness.
    • Marcus’s story: From NFL highs to a suicide attempt, healed through therapy and APN’s 30-day program.
    • Support matters: A team of listeners and professionals can redefine identity beyond sport.
    • Youth focus: Circle of M empowers kids with mental health tools, starting with the feelings wheel.
    • Physical weight of pain: Anxiety and depression feel like a vest, lifted through sharing and healing.

    Credits: Athlete Mindset is part of the SportsE Media platform.
    Produced by KazCM and featured on the QuietLoud Studios podcast network.

    Support the Athlete Mindset Community: Click Here to contribute to the Athlete Mindset Community.

    By supporting the Athlete Mindset community, you will contribute directly to the mental health of athletes. With your amplification, we can ensure more voices are heard and more individuals are impacted. Thank You for making a difference!

    Connect with the guest, host, and podcast production team:

    • Marcus Smith II: LinkedIn | The Circle of M podcast | website
    • Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC: LinkedIn | Instagram | website
    • SportsE Media: LinkedIn | X

    Related episodes to “Unmasking Mental Health with Marcus Smith”:

    • Doug Middleton | From NFL to Mental Health Advocacy and Dream Yoga + Wellness
    • Marques Ogden | Former NFL Player, Servant Leader, Inspirational Speaker
    • Dominique Easley | NFL Veteran Championing Student-Athletes in Underserved Communities

    Music: Beat Provided By freebeats.io | Produced By White Hot
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    49 mins
  • Mental Health Realities for Elite Athletes with Courtney Messina

    Mental Health Realities for Elite Athletes with Courtney Messina
    Apr 15 2025
    Welcome to the Athlete Mindset podcast, hosted by Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC. In this episode, Lisa sits down with Courtney Messina, MA, LPC-S, LCDC, a former Ole Miss soccer athlete, and Senior Director for Outpatient Clinical Operations at All Points North (APN). Courtney shares insights from her work with elite athletes, including her role at APN’s Elite Athletes Program and as a visiting therapist at TCU. They explore why athletes seek therapy—sports injuries, identity struggles, mental performance, and more—while unpacking the unique challenges of transitioning out of sport. From practical tips like prioritizing sleep to society’s need to destigmatize mental health, this coffee-chat-style conversation offers hope and actionable insights.Key Takeaways from "Mental Health Realities for Elite Athletes with Courtney Messina"Common struggles: Injuries, identity loss, and the relentless pressure to perform flawlessly.APN’s Elite Athletes Program: Residential care to virtual IOP, serving NFL players and expanding to other sports.Strategies: Reframing identity beyond sport, building resilience, and normalizing help-seeking behaviors.Society’s role: Prioritizing mental health as integral to overall health and reducing stigma.Sleep matters: How rest boosts focus, mood, and emotional regulation for peak performance.Injury impact: The loneliness and body image shifts that amplify mental health challenges.More about Courtney Messina:Courtney Messina, MA, LPC-S, LCDC, is the Senior Director for Outpatient Clinical Operations at All Points North, leveraging extensive experience in clinical leadership and behavioral health services.After earning a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Mississippi and a master's in clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Texas at Tyler, Courtney has had the opportunity to work in various settings including community mental health, corrections and inpatient and outpatient facilities treating clients with co-occurring disorders.Beyond her pursuits at All Points North and as a former Division I athlete at Ole Miss, Courtney is very passionate about working with the Athlete population. She is a visiting senior therapist for the Athletics Department at Texas Christian University and is listed in The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Mental Health Registry.Courtney has been featured in several media outlets, including Treatment Magazine, the Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Learning Network, The Dallas Morning News, and Genesis the Podcast.Credits: Athlete Mindset is part of the SportsE Media platform.Produced by KazCM and featured on the QuietLoud Studios podcast network.Support the Athlete Mindset Community: Click Here to contribute to the Athlete Mindset Community.By supporting the Athlete Mindset community, you will contribute directly to the mental health of athletes. With your amplification, we can ensure more voices are heard and more individuals are impacted. Thank You for making a difference!Connect with the guest, host, and podcast production team:Courtney Messina: LinkedIn | websiteLisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC: LinkedIn | Instagram | websiteSportsE Media: LinkedIn | XRelated episodes to “Mental Health Realities for Elite Athletes with Courtney Messina”:Mental Strength with Dr. Brook ChouletThe Intersection of Sports Psychiatry and Performance with Dr. Wilsa Charles MalveauxUnderstanding Athlete Identity with Kim BradyMusic: Beat Provided By freebeats.io | Produced By White Hot
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    54 mins
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